welll. the rangers crit is based on the ranged combat skill...

SO... we start our ranger as a mook Psionic, which gives us the ability to start out with about 10 more int and sen than any other race/class combo (including ranger)

we pump dex (nessasary to change to ranger at lv 1/2) and int and sen (spd is low unofrtounatly)

when we lv the first time we change to ranger by puting 3 into dex and sen and then pumping sen/int(until 95 because of incident in trynton) then dex/spd.

In order to get ranged crits we have to use bows or modern weapons, so i suggest using bow early (dex/str which you have plenty of) and modern late (spd/dex) which you will be pumping after lv 8 or so(spd will max at 28 or so :( ).

we wont be the fastest ranger around, but you should have an insane chance for ranged crits very early, and you will have powercast to let your ranger cast effectivly (so long as he/she practices spells) nearly a few lv's after you start learning them

the ninja/ranger class change doesnt work as crit skill only works on thrown (If ninja) and meele(for all)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Goumindong:
the ninja/ranger class change doesnt work as crit skill only works on thrown (If ninja) and meele(for all)<hr></blockquote>

I don't think this is right, I imported my party from 7 so everyone had a critical skill of 20 and with just 20 points in crit, my bard was getting quite a few instant kills with the double shot cross bow, more than my ranger in fact. Part of it I beleive was her high eagle eye skill which happened to be quite a bit higher than my ranger who took longer to max out senses, since she started out lower and was always 1-2 lvls behind. The other part was that my bard (a hobbit)was faster with a higher dex so she fired more arrows, so she had more chances to get instant kills.

My suggestion for a lot of crit kills with your ranger is use a Hobbit and max out senses and dex fast, then spd. Hobbits have a lot of sen, dex, and speed so they'll shoot quite often and have an improved chance to crit. The downside is that you'll go through a lot of ammo, so it's hard to keep her stocked.

I am playing a Mook Ranger currently. At about level 20 I have maxed Spd and Senses. I am working on Dex and a little strength now. The ranger gets at least one critical hit each major battle. It seems to me the chance of a critical hit is not a linear progression. I definitely recommend pumping speed for any character as it just stinks when all your enemies go before you.

In Reply to #2
I mean that the critical strike skill does not affect rangers, Ranged combat will affet the crit chance of a ranger, but crit strike wont, as its for meele+martial arts+thrown (ninja only)

In reply to #3

I wont get snake speed until abhorently late, BUT!!!!!! senses give MORE initive than speed, I may loose one attack a round, but i think that with the uber high intelegence ill have (as well as powercast) that my crit chance should make up for it, AND ill be able to cast spells more effectivly forgoing pie for spell points, which means i can cast effectivly late game and have crits and shoot my bow well...